One of the team’s original five staff members, James Adams helped establish the 49ers football foundation. He was originally hired as a defensive positions coach and is now in his second year as the 49ers secondary coach, coordinating a secondary that ranked 25th in the FCS with 15 interceptions.

He was a Defensive Assistant Coach for Mike Ayers at Wofford in 2010, serving primarily as the Cornerbacks Coach and with special teams. Wofford owned the Southern Conference’s top defense in 2010, ranking first in the league in both total defense and passing defense and second in rushing defense.

Prior to joining Wofford’s staff, Adams also worked alongside Lambert at Wake Forest as the Recruiting Assistant in 2008 and the Offensive Graduate Assistant in 2009.

A former Wake Forest linebacker whose career was cut short by a knee injury, Adams graduated from Wake Forest in 2006. A Durham native who attended Northern Durham High School, Adams was recruited to Wake Forest by 49ers offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen.Adams was active in community service projects throughout his college career.

"Very high character," Lambert said. "He’s everything we want in our program in how we want our players treated and coached. He was a really good player and he’s a very knowledgeable football coach. He’s such a high-character guy -- and everything we’re looking for in an assistant coach. (North Carolina) will be a focus for us in recruiting -- and having James, who is from North Carolina and played at Wake -- that’s an attractive thing."

Adams and his wife, Tori, have a daughter Londyn and they live in Charlotte.